Burr’s Ferry was an important communications point between Texas and the United States, especially during the settlement era of the early 1800’s. Named for Dr. Timothy Burr (1790-1852), second cousin of U.S. Vice President Aaron Burr, it was in the Sabine area by 1809, and after Burr moved his family from Ohio in the 1820’s, he practiced medicine from his home plantation on the Sabine. The family operated the ferry in the 1840’s, and the town of Burr’s Ferry grew up on the east side of the river. Earlier called Hickman’s Ferry, this crossing gave pioneers a way to enter Texas with their stock, household goods, and other property, and it was one of four main points of entry on the Texas–Louisiana border. Along with El Camino Real from Natchitoches and the Upper and Lower routes, it was known as the Old Beef Trail because thousands of cattle were driven from Texas to Alexandria for shipment to cities such as New Orleans as early as the 1820’s and 30’s. In the 1860’s, during the Civil War, the crossing was considered strategic, with breastworks built on the east bank and timber cleared on the west bank to guard against Federal invasions.